The Witchdoctor

[EternalOptimist]

Taking religion out of it, why would it matter? Even the most rational of us lives their life on how they feel about things, rather than cold facts.

Because these people dont believe in the rule of law. they believe in rule by law. they take the authority that they have not earned, do not deserve, then they formulate their law because the end justfies the means.
and we are trapped. because we abide by the law.


there is nothing nice or pleasant about the witchdoctor. He is just as likely to be as right or wrong as the rest of us. but we admit it and accept it. The zealots do not. the eco loon zealots are not an allegory or an excercise in philosophical debate. They are real, and they are here

[d000hg]

After all, it's not the truth that matters, it's what the people believe.

Our whole civilisation is based on this premise. Bit sad really when you think about it.

Taking religion out of it, why would it matter? Even the most rational of us lives their life on how they feel about things, rather than cold facts.

[SueEllen]

I thought this was going to be a thread to post one's medical ailments the Eternal'witchdoctor'Optimist would propose a cure.

Oh well....

I can do that for you....

Post away....

Through some of the tinctures are not very tasty.

[BrilloPad]

I thought this was going to be a thread to post one's medical ailments the Eternal'witchdoctor'Optimist would propose a cure.

Oh well....

[TestMangler]

Ooh-ee-ooh-ah-ah, ting-tang-walla-walla-bang-bang

That's quite a hard arguement to counter effectively.

[MarillionFan]

Ooh-ee-ooh-ah-ah, ting-tang-walla-walla-bang-bang

[escapeUK]

The witchdoctor knows enough about human nature to know that if the tribe stopped putting it's energies into war then they could use them for other useful things.

That fact the drought stopped was just a coincidence.

It it hadn't stopped then the witchdoctor would have been able to find one or more individuals in the tribe who the rest could turn on.

Usually women of certain advanced age too. Good old days eh?

[SueEllen]

Thats right little stig.

and how does the witchdoctor know what is true ? and, therefore, why should we believe him ?

The witchdoctor knows enough about human nature to know that if the tribe stopped putting it's energies into war then they could use them for other useful things.

That fact the drought stopped was just a coincidence.

It it hadn't stopped then the witchdoctor would have been able to find one or more individuals in the tribe who the rest could turn on.

[doodab]

Why should we believe him?

Why indeed.

[EternalOptimist]

While ideally you'd like people to believe the truth the sad truth is that most of them don't or won't for some reason or another. Therefore it turns out that in a democracy what they believe has more influence than the truth.

The world is full of skillful manipulators or public opinion. If you think you happen to believe the truth rather than what someone somewhere wants you to believe you're probably wrong.

And anyway, how do we know what is true?

Thats right little stig.

and how does the witchdoctor know what is true ? and, therefore, why should we believe him ?

[doodab]

After all, it's not the truth that matters, it's what the people believe

While ideally you'd like people to believe the truth the sad truth is that most of them don't or won't for some reason or another. Therefore it turns out that in a democracy what they believe has more influence than the truth.

The world is full of skillful manipulators or public opinion. If you think you happen to believe the truth rather than what someone somewhere wants you to believe you're probably wrong.

And anyway, how do we know what is true?

[escapeUK]

After all, it's not the truth that matters, it's what the people believe.

Our whole civilisation is based on this premise. Bit sad really when you think about it. Sky pixies bless you all.

[OwlHoot]

Today they're just called "doctors", for short.

[EternalOptimist]

Years and years ago, all the best tribes had a witchdoctor. If you didnt have a witchdoctor - you were nobody.

The typical witchdoctor was no good at hunting, fighting or making things with his hands, but he had a good brain.

The chief and his bondsmen was the executive branch of the tribe, organising thing and getting them done, but the witchdoctor was the blue skies thinker. He got all his authority from 'the gods'. He was the only one who communicated with them and when the gods spoke, you had better listen boy.

So the witchdoctor sat back and watched, and he realised that the war with the Umbongoes was not a good idea for the tribe. When there was a drought, he said 'I had a dream, the gods say the war is bad, and they have punished us'
Even the chief couldnt argue with that. So the war ended, the tribe prospered, the witchdoctor smiled to himself, and let the nubiles oil his hair and rub his totem pole.

Of course the witchdoctor didnt know what caused the drought. But he knew that if he tried to reason with the chief, he would end up in the pot. much better to frighten the wits out people with a lie, get the job done and keep the nubiles as well.

After all, it's not the truth that matters, it's what the people believe.